Best Obesity Health Blogs of the Year 2017

I am so honored that The World According to Eggface was selected by Healthline Media as one of the Best Obesity Health Blogs of the Year

Healthline

Blogging my weight loss journey helps me keep my head in the game. You learn quite quickly post weight loss surgery that there is no finish-line, every day you wake up and make the best decisions you can that day; bad days, good days, life happens and we adjust the sails, forever.

It's a great comfort knowing I've got an awesome group of people who "get it" just a few keystrokes away. I appreciate you and THANK YOU for being a part of my support system. I am honored that you allow me to be a part of your lives as well.

I get so jazzed when I receive a message from a blog reader that a tip or resource on the blog has helped them, a product I mentioned or a recipe has become a family favorite. I will continue to write with the hope that the blog continues to help others in their journey, taking a little of the fear of the unknown out of life post weight loss surgery, passing along some tips for those new to this journey and OG's like me fighting the good fight and hopefully helping to dispel some misconceptions about obesity, weight loss and weight loss surgery along the way.

Please add all of the wonderful blogs to your reading list (click on the badge above to see the complete 2017 winner's list.) Some of my very favorite blogs are included, a nice mix of education, motivation, inspiration and fun.

and Thank You!! so much Healthline for thinking the blog worthy of making the list.

P.S. I am also proud to say I serve on the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) Board of Directors whose blog is also on this year's list. I hope I will get to meet some of you in person at OAC's Your Weight Matters National Convention in New Orleans this summer.

Protein Shake Recipes: Unicorn Protein Shake

I just had to make my own version of that darn Starbuck's Unicorn Frappuccino concoction that is all over my timeline. Now I'm not sure how the real deal tastes because it's like 39 grams of sugar for the tall which would be a ticket to dump city post weight loss surgery but I heard from a pal that it tastes like a cross between Amoxicillin and Sweet Tarts. Umm no thanks. My version is a yummy fruity concoction, no added sugar and it's protein packed too. Mmm magical.

Shelly's Sugar Free Unicorn Protein Shake

8 oz. Milk (any)

1 packet/serving of Protein Powder (I used Celebrate Vitamins Wildberry Protein 20)

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Raspberry Torani Syrup

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Strawberry Torani Syrup

1-2 Tablespoons Frozen Blueberries 

a few cubes of Ice

Whiz on high in blender. I topped it with No Sugar Added, Homemade Whipped Cream and a sprinkle of magical unicorn dust... aka Strawberry & Blueberry Freeze Dried Fruit Powder. I made the Freeze Dried Fruit Powder by tossing freeze dried, no sugar added fruit into a coffee grinder 

Note: Must use freeze dried (crispy) not dehydrated or dried fruit (chewy.) It's sort of like Astronaut Ice Cream texture if you remember that. I found freeze dried fruit at Trader Joe's, if you don't have a TJ's here's an online source or sometimes camping supply stores have them too. 

Shelly's Homemade No Sugar Added Whipped Cream

1 cup Whipping Cream

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (any flavor will do) 

Whisk till well combined. Every batch I make a new flavor: SF Vanilla, SF Coconut, SF Almond, if you want pink cream Sugar Free Raspberry is great. Fill whipping cream to the fill line of the whipper. Screw on the top. Insert the CO2 cartridge till it empties, unscrew that. Put the nozzle on, shake a few times and squirt away. It makes a ton, store it in the fridge for up to 10 days just give it another few shakes before squirting. Great on berries, shakes and smoothies, protein cake. You can make chocolate whipped cream too just add unsweetened cocoa powder 2 Tablespoons to recipe above and into the whipper. 

More Eggface Protein Shake Recipes

Post Weight Loss Surgery Menus: A day in my pouch

A day in my pouch is a series of blog posts to show what a typical daily menu looks like in my post weight loss surgery world. Today's healthy and delicious menu...

Breakfast: I made a batch of my Chai Spice Protein Granola. If you haven't made this yet... do it it's soooo good. You can put it in a baggie and take it with you on a walk or hike or top cottage cheese, ricotta cheese or Greek yogurt. It makes a great movie theater snack or travel snack in a little snack size plastic container. Today I filled my bento box and took my work outside, thank you wifi. It was a gorgeous day. The only negative was the distraction of looking at all the weeds I need to pull this weekend. I just pulled a ton and they are back...uggh they grow like... weeds ;)

Pink Box (top left): Sliced Strawberries tossed with a little SF Strawberry Sauce (Smuckers)
Green Box (top right): LOL just some of my vitamins (Celebrate Vitamins Grape Multi Chewable, Calcium Caramel Chew, Iron with C, and B12 Cherry Sublingual)
Blue Box (bottom left): Shelly's Chai Spice Protein Granola
Orange Box (bottom right): Cottage Cheese with Cinnamon

More Eggface Bento Box Recipes and Ideas

P.S. Remember to space your iron from your calcium. I was outside awhile.

Lunch: Leftovers of last night's dinner. Roasted Eggplant Baked Ricotta, a cross between my infamous Ricotta Bake and Eggplant Parmesan. Our local market had a great deal this past week on eggplant: 49 cents a piece. I love eggplant. I grew up eating it (1/2 Sicilian) but I know a lot of people that don't eat it (or at least rarely prepare it at home) thinking it's difficult. It really doesn't have to be. I love to roast it. You can peel it but when you roast it the peel is super flavorful and I have no issues post weight loss surgery digesting it, it's an excellent source of potassium, magnesium, vitamins B1 and B6... and since it's a pretty good source of fiber... TMI... it helps keep things umm moving.

Shelly's Roasted Eggplant Baked Ricotta

2 Eggplants, cubed & roasted
1 cup Ricotta Cheese
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (oregano, basil blend)
1 cup Marinara Sauce (I used storebought Rao's straight from the jar)
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

To roast the eggplant: Wash, dry, slice and cube into 2 inch-ish pieces. Place them on a baking sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with some Kosher salt, toss to coat and roast in a 425 degree oven for about 40-45 minutes every 15 or so give them a turn. You want slightly golden brown yummy parts and softened. I usually roast the eggplant on Sunday and then Monday or Tuesday it's just a matter of assembling this quick and delicious casserole.

To make the casserole: Mix seasoning into ricotta. Place 1/2 the roasted eggplant cubes into a Pyrex baking dish (any brownie pan-ish size will do)

Dot with 1/2 the ricotta cheese and sprinkle with 1/2 the Parmesan cheese.

Spoon 1/2 the sauce on top.

Then repeat, sort of, I like to end with the Mozzarella & Ricotta cheeses on top.

Bake at 400 for 30 minutes, broil the top for the last 2-3 minutes.

More Eggface Healthy Italian Recipes

Dinner: My Mum's favorite Egg Bites (and she has tried them all) are my Egg Foo Young Bites. I made a batch of those by request. I served them with grilled (stovetop grill pan) Shrimp and Green Onions.

I basted the shrimp in the last few minutes with a Tablespoon of Kikkoman Garlic & Green Onion Teriyaki Sauce. Yum.

More Eggface Egg Bites
More Eggface Asian Inspired Recipes

Snacks: A couple of cups of Coffee and after I hit publish I'm going to have the last of my Premier Protein Pudding Flower Pots while I watch a little mindless TV.

More Days in my Pouch

Premier Protein 5 Fun and Festive Ideas for a Happy and Healthy Easter

This post is sponsored by Premier Protein®. I'm excited to share a couple of my favorite recipes featuring Premier Protein Shakes with you and fun activities to get everyone moving this holiday weekend.

Here's 5 fun and festive Easter recipes and activities for the whole family to enjoy that will also keep your health and weight loss goals intact.

Shelly's Premier Protein Pudding Spring Flower Pots 

6 - 4 oz. jars (or clear cups)
2 cups Premier Protein Chocolate Shake (Ready to Drink RTD, chilled)
1 - 1 oz. small package Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Instant Pudding Mix (dry)
Optional: 1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Almond, Coconut, or Caramel Syrup (make your pudding taste like your favorite Easter candy) and toppings (see below)

Pour the chilled shakes, pudding mix and optional: syrup flavoring into a shaker bottle. If you choose to add a flavoring put one less Tablespoon of the shake.

Shake for 3 minutes or until thickened slightly and place in fridge for about 5 minutes to thicken further. Spoon the thickened protein pudding into jars.

You can top your garden with all sorts of things: I made green Coconut (a few drops of food coloring in a baggie of shredded unsweetened coconut), but crushed nuts, sunflower seeds, powdered peanut butter or crumbled Premier Protein Bars make great "dirt" to plant your flowers in!

You can make these a day in advance and just don't put the toppings on till you serve them or better yet put out little bowls of toppings and let everyone create their own delicious flower pot and add plastic flowers, "shovel" spoons, sugar free gummy worms or bugs.

More Premier Protein Recipes

Premier Protein Easter Bunny Carrot Cake Shake

1 Premier Protein Vanilla Shake (11 oz. Ready to Drink RTD shake)
1/4 cup Carrot, shredded
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Cheesecake Pudding Mix, dry
a dash of Cinnamon
a dash of Nutmeg
a few ice cubes

Blend on high. Top with Homemade, No Sugar Added Whipped Cream and another dash of Cinnamon.

Premier Protein shakes provide 30 grams of protein, 24 vitamins and minerals, are just 160 calories, low in fat and only one gram of sugar so you will have plenty of good energy to hide all those eggs for the egg hunts and play these three eggciting active games that will get the whole family moving this holiday weekend.

Egg Says

You'll need: plastic fillable Easter Eggs, a slip of paper for each egg & a pen. On each slip of paper write some activity that the whole family will have to complete. Take turns picking eggs and completing the task. Ideas for activities: 20 jumping jacks. dance for 3 minutes non-stop. hop on one foot for a minute. 10 push-ups, longest plank, 5 bunny burpees: regular burpees but while wearing bunny ears.

Egg & Spoon Race

You'll need: hard boiled or plastic eggs and wooden or plastic spoons. Egg & Spoon Race is a classic. Each family member places a hardboiled egg on a spoon, then tries to dash from one end of the yard to another without dropping the egg. If the egg drops, you have to start over from the beginning.

Egg Roll

You'll need: hard boiled eggs and wooden or plastic spoons. Like the egg & spoon race, except instead of carrying your egg, each family member pushes their egg with a spoon, through the grass and across the yard to the finish line. Make it even more challenging by setting up a winding course to navigate or obstacles in the path (boxes, lawn furniture, the family dog) to go around.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy Easter!

This post is sponsored by Premier Protein® #TheDayIsYours For the purposes of this post Premier Protein provided me with products used. Want to learn more about Premier Protein products LIKE their Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram and tell them The World According to Eggface told you to stop by. Hope you give these recipes and activities a try!

Eggface and Celebrate Vitamins Spring Forward Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Celebrate Vitamins. I am excited to share with you some of my favorite Celebrate products including their Soft Chew and their AWESOME sample pack!

The other day in my Friday Five blog post I shared a "Did You Know" reminder about the sampler pack that Celebrate Vitamins offers for people to be able to check out some of their products. It's chockful of multis, iron, B12, calcium, 27 different samples in total. I highly suggest getting one if you are a pre-op, new post-op, looking for a change or have fallen off with your post weight loss surgery vitamin requirements... P.S. To those of you that have fallen off taking your vitamins I say this with love, tough love... that is NOT AN OPTION. Vitamin deficiencies are serious and it's way easier to prevent them then to try and get yourself back out of one. Take your vitamins xo.

Spring is the perfect time for fresh starts and new beginnings. If you are wanting to renew your commitment to your health and those non-negotiables like vitamins we all agreed to when we took the helping hand of weight loss surgery or are just starting your weight loss journey and wanting to start out with the best foot forward. I hope this helps...

It's Giveaway Time!

The Prize: Some great Celebrate Vitamins products and other weight loss surgery friendly items to help you spring forward into a healthier life...

A Full Size Bag of Celebrate Vitamins Protein 20 Protein Powder (Wildberry)
60 ct. Celebrate Vitamins Multivitamin Soft Chew (Very Berry) (FYI it's the only soft chew multivitamin that meets current ASMBS guidelines)
30 ct. Celebrate Vitamins Iron + C (Berry)
7 bar box of Celebrate Vitamins Protein 2 in 1 Protein and Calcium Bars (Crazzberry Crunch)
One of those AWESOME Celebrate Vitamins Sampler Packs (containing 27 product samples)
Pink Breakfast to Go Container with Built-in Spoon (mix Wildberry Protein 20 into yogurt and top with crumbled Celebrate Crazzberry bar for a delicious protein packed breakfast on the go!)
Pink Blenderball Shaker

How to Enter: LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (be sure to include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner) Scroll down to # of comments/post a comment below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com

Want an extra chance to win: Follow my Facebook page and mention in your comment on this post letting me know.

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com I liked you on Facebook too!

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, April 16th (11:59 PM Pacific), winner announced sometime Monday, April 17th. I'll draw a name using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog. I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner may be chosen. One ENTRY per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment/entry post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the U.S. only (contiguous United States plus Alaska & Hawaii mailing address only, sorry it's a international law thing.)

As always thanks for following and sharing the blog link, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter social media pages with your friends, family and support groups and for checking out the great companies that I feature on the blog from time to time. I appreciate it.

Good Luck!


Thank you Celebrate Vitamins for partnering with me on this giveaway. For more information about their extensive line of products be sure to check them out on Facebook and please tell them Eggface sent you.

Friday Five

A round-up of tidbits, tips, products, ideas, news articles, random cool things from the weight, health, nutrition, food, fitness, weight loss surgery world...

1. New Product: Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Seasoning - all the yummy seedy bits that are on an everything bagel without the bagel. I seriously want to SPRINKLE THIS ON ALL THE THINGS! Salads, soups, egg, tuna or crab salad, on deviled eggs, scrambled egg bowls, cooked veggies.

I made these suckers the other day... cucumber slices, hard cooked egg, smoked salmon, sprinkle of Everything but the Bagel seasoning. HEAVEN.

Get yourself some. No Trader Joe's nearby? Grrr bummer. There's a very similar product is available online called Bagel Spice.

2. Another yummy product: If you are a cheese lover and heading to Costco this weekend be sure you toss a bag of these Cello Whisps - Parmesan Cheese Crisps in your cart. I love these when you want a little salty crunch. A couple with a cold cut roll-up is a perfect low carb, protein packed lunch.
Warning: Addictive, so just be sure to portion them out and not mindlessly reach into the bag. 15 crisps (quarter size), 100 cals, 0 carbs, 7 grams fat, 9 grams protein.

You can also sprinkle a couple on top of a salad or soup, sort of like a crouton (that's where you will find them in Costco on the same aisle as salad toppings: croutons, bacon bits, etc.)

I'm going to grab another bag this week and pulverize some and attempt a chicken coating. I'll let you know how it goes.

No Costco? Trader Joe's has a very similar product I talked about a few weeks back called Baked Cheese Bites.

More Eggface Sweet & Savory Snacks

3. Couple of things to check out online: Once a month (2nd Sunday of every month at 9 pm EST) a group of bariatric surgeons, patients, healthcare professionals, and advocates have been meeting for a tweetchat. Topics so far have been weight bias, access to treatment. Mark your calendar and join in (or just read along by scrolling through the hashtag #OBSM) this Sunday April 9th, 9PM ET #OBSM tweetchat! This month's topic: Weight Regain 

What's a Tweetchat?

Also online: A blog post I wrote for the Your Weight Matters Blog about a few phone apps I'm loving right now.

4. DYK: Celebrate Vitamins offers a HUGE sampler pack of vitamins for only 3 bucks. 27 different samples are included. So if you are a new post-op or have slipped with your vitamin regimen you can find some new favs. Also... the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has recently released new guidelines and if you are a fan of chews (starburst style) Celebrate's Multi Chews are the only chew that currently meets those ASMBS guidelines. Oh and Celebrate gives you a $3 off your first purchase coupon so basically the sampler pack ends up being free. Learn more about the Sampler Pack.

Learn more about the ASMBS new guidelines on Friday, August 11th at the Your Weight Matters National Convention. One of the sessions will break it all down... Guidance in the Guidelines: Looking at Your Nutritional Needs after Bariatric Surgery including how to recognizing the signs and symptoms of deficiencies and what you can do to prevent them. Spoiler alert: Take your vitamins ;) Check out the #YWM2017 agenda.

5. I need your help! It's the last few days to get in on the giveaway I have going on to benefit the Your Weight Matters Scholarship fund. CLICK HERE TO ENTER. You will be doing an awesome thing getting someone closer to being able to come to a truly life changing event and ANY amount gets you an entry in the special giveaway (over $200 worth of awesome products) Ends Sunday. Winner announced here on the blog on Monday.

If every reader gave even $1 I'd be so jazzed and so thankful!

More about the Your Weight Matters National Convention.

Eggface Giveaway to Benefit Your Weight Matters Scholarship Fund

Something near and dear to my heart is the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)  Your Weight Matters National Convention it's an awesome event where people can get evidence based education to improve their health. It truly is life changing. My hope is that anyone struggling with their weight and health has the opportunity to attend. As the current Convention Chairperson, I can tell you we do EVERYTHING we can to keep the costs of coming to the convention down and have established a fund to help bring even more people.

If you are able to give a couple of bucks to the Scholarship Fund to help those that can't afford to attend I would appreciate it and please plan on coming to the event www.YWMConvention.com there isn't anyone that wouldn't benefit from the health, weight, nutrition, fitness, emotional health education and the wonderful, inspiring people that come together to celebrate health.

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." - Mahatma Gandhi 

We'd love a few pieces of gold or silver but green paper or plastic are great too ;) Will you help with a donation today? Every little bit helps!

and BONUS!! Everyone that donates any amount through this link from now through next Sunday, April 9th will receive an entry in my giveaway below...

The Prize: This prize package of goodies is full of items that will give a healthy start to new post-op, those beginning their weight loss journey or for those on the road already it will hopefully give you renewed motivation (and that is exactly what attending YWM does so please consider giving and/or attending!)

A NIKE Workout bag (to use when you hit the gym, dance class, or carry-on when you head to YWM2017 in New Orleans)
Escali Smart Connect Bluetooth Kitchen Scale
21 days of protein! Including 16 Protein Shake Travel Packets (in a variety of awesome flavors including favorites from Celebrate Vitamins, Chike, Quest)
5 Ready to Drink Premier Protein Shakes (Caramel, Banana & Cream, Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberries and Cream)
60 ct. Celebrate Vitamins Chewable Multivitamin (Mandarin Orange)
30 ct. Celebrate Vitamins Iron + C Chewable (Grape)
90 ct. Celebrate Vitamins Calcium Soft Chew (Chocolate)
4 Celebrate Vitamins ENS 2 in 1 Protein & Calcium Bars (Lemon Crunch & Crazzberry Crunch)
Sweaty Bands Non Slip Fitness Headband
Blender Bottle Shaker
Earbuds
Vitamin Pill Box Organizer
The World According to Eggface Reusable Lunch Bag
an Eggface "Remember Why You Started" Bracelet (a little motivation for tough days) and a Your Weight Matters Bracelet

How to Enter: DONATE ANY AMOUNT to the OAC Your Weight Matters Scholarship Fund using this link  *must use my specific donation link in this blog post to be eligible for this giveaway prize* and then just LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog posting (be sure to include a name and some email address where I can contact you if you are the winner, no need to tell me amount of donation, any $'s will help.) Scroll down to # of comments/post a comment below to leave yours. That's it, easy peasy.

Example: Jane Doe jdoe@someemail.com I'm giving someone the gift of education and support!

Contest Period Ends: Sunday, April 9th, (11:59 PM Pacific), sometime Monday, April 10th. I'll draw a name of all those that donated/commented using a random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog! I will also email the winner at the address provided. You'll have one week (7 days) to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen. One entry per person. Blog comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay (up to a few hours) in seeing your comment post. Giveaway is open to anyone in the U.S. only (contiguous United States plus Alaska & Hawaii mailing address only, sorry it's a international law and $ thing.)

For info about the OAC Your Weight Matters National Convention

For info about the OAC Your Weight Matters Scholarship Program 

Thank you for your donation to the OAC Your Weight Matters Scholarship Program

Take it Outside: Bento Box Lunches

Sometimes, you just need to go outside, breathe some fresh air and watch the clouds float by. If you are able to bring your lunch outside I highly recommend it. Get out of the break room, the office or cubicle, find a grassy spot, park bench or patio table to eat lunch. My job has me attached to a computer most of the day but when I can I bring my lunch outside and I am always in a better mood and more productive the rest of the day because of it. Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a huge impact on our brains and behavior, helping us reduce anxiety and stress and we already know those play a role in weight gain; another reason to take it outside...

Here are a few of my most recent low carb, protein packed bento box lunches. Click on the highlighted links for recipes and resources...

Pink Box (top left): Carne Asada Steak

Green Box (top right): Guacamole

Blue Box (bottom left): Kale Salad with Shredded Cheese, Carrot and Cucumber

Orange Box (bottom right): Rocky Road Quest Protein Bar turned into "Cookies"

Pink Box (top left): Cheese Cubes

Green Box (top right): Pistachios

Blue Box (bottom left): Hard Cooked Egg on a Stick with Everything Bagel Seasoning (Trader Joe's or Bagel Spice Online)

Orange Box (bottom right): Blueberry Muffin Quest Protein Bar turned into "Cookies" 

Pink Box (top left): Greek Yogurt sweetened with Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup

Green Box (top right): Raspberries and Blueberries

Blue Box (bottom left): Shelly's Cinnamon Churro Mini Ricotta Pancakes

Orange Box (bottom right): (in the little blue container) Sugar Free Maple Syrup 

Pink Box (top left): Cottage Cheese sprinkled with Cinnamon

Green Box (top right): Shelly's Chai Spice Protein Granola

Blue Box (bottom left): Green Grapes (Salt & Pepper and Hot Sauce for the Egg)

Orange Box (bottom right): Hard Cooked Egg

Pink Box (top left): Lettuce Salad with Shredded Cheese and Salsa

Green Box (top right): Guacamole Packet (Trader Joe's)

Blue Box (bottom left): Leftover Cooked Chicken

Orange Box (bottom right): Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Quest Protein Bar turned into "Cookies" 

Pink Box (top left): Mustard Packet and Cheese Cubes

Green Box (top right): Pickles

Blue Box (bottom left): Roast Beef Cold Cut Roll-ups

Orange Box (bottom right): a hunk of Quest Waffle Cereal Bar 

More Bento Box lunches, FAQ's and an Online Source for them
My Bento Pinterest Page (Tons of Lunch Ideas)

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." ~ Ferris Bueller